Sadiq Umar: My Bond With Dzeko And My Olympic Dream

Completesportsnigeria.com's JOHNNY EDWARD gets AS Roma's Nigerian teenage star Sadiq Umar to talk about his Olympic dreams and his new contract with the Italian side, among other issues…

How excited are you signing a new professional contract with AS Roma?

It's a rare opportunity for me to have achieved that alongside my friend Nura Abdulahi. I feel very happy with it and for me, personally, football has just started.

Talking about the Olympics, you got your first national team invite when you were named in the 35-man provisional squad for the games. How confident are you about making the final squad?

It's not a do-or-die affair. It all depends on the coach and the kind of system he wants to play, if I fit into it. I'm confident in my ability and I will give my best to ensure I make the final 18.

The team lost their first pre-season game in the US. Do you think there's hope for the U-23 team at the Olympics?

It was a test game and I believe we will get better in subsequent games. We just need to believe in ourselves and prove our inclusion to the team. For me it will be a dream achieved if I I'm selected for the Games in a year I made my Serie A debut and got a professional contract at Roma.

What's training like under Samson Siasia?

It's cool. Under every coach you get to learn new methods and that's exactly the process here. Making the final 18 will cap what has been a fruitful season and year for me in football.

You have been likened to Edin Dzeko at AS Roma. What kind of bond did you both strike last season where you scored twice in six appearances?

Dzeko is a wonderful player who encourages me a lot on and off the pitch. Because of the similarities we have in height, he also advises me on how I can be better than him. He's a great guy. I hope to learn more tricks from him in the coming years if he stays on at the club.

You have been linked with several clubs in the Serie B. Umar tells us will you be joining Crotone as widely reported in the Italian media.

A decision has not been made yet on where I'll play but I'll worry about that in a couple of weeks.